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Governor Tom Wolf has proclaimed June 2018 Pride Month in the Commonwealth, stating  “Pride Month is a time to take a positive stance against discrimination and violence toward LGBTQ individuals, to promote self-affirmation, dignity, and equality, and to build community and celebrate diversity.”

Equality Pennsylvania worked with Governor Wolf to create the LGBT Interagency Workgroup, and has worked with the Wolf administration to recommend and help form LGBTQ-inclusive policies that have improved state-provided services for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians.

Click here to send a Thank You message to Governor Wolf

“The Wolf Administration’s commitment to the LGBTQ community is crystal clear,” said Equality PA Executive Director John Dawe. “In nearly every single department, they have made state-provided programs and services more inclusive and welcoming for LGBTQ individuals and families.”

The proclamation reads: “In recognition of the unwavering dedication of advocates and allies to promote equality, I, Tom Wolf, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim June 2018 as Pride Month. I encourage all Pennsylvanians to celebrate this important observance and to continue to work toward the goal of liberty and justice for all.”

Click here to send a Thank You message to Governor Wolf

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Why John Fetterman?

Governor Wolf has been a friend and support of the LGBTQ community in more ways than we can list right now.  Senator Casey stands up for LGBTQ Equality time and time again in Harrisburg and across the Commonwealth. These are easy choices when we go to the polls tomorrow/Tuesday for the Democratic Primary, made especially easy because they don't have Primary challengers.

But it's incredibly important that you vote on Tuesday, and John Fetterman is a fantastic reason.

We wanted to take a minute, though, and tell you about our third endorsed statewide candidate Braddock Mayor John Fetterman [LINK] who is running for Lieutenant Governor and is Equality PA's top pick to hold the Commonwealth's second in command position.

In his endorsement request to Equality PA, Mayor Fetterman wrote:

I want to be a progressive backstop for the Governor and ensure that Tom Wolf gets re-elected and bring back the democratic voters we lost in 2016. To advocate for economic justice and our forgotten communities, and to utilize and transform the office to its fullest potential compared to previous administrations.

On the PA Fairness Act: Pennsylvania is long overdue to pass comprehensive nondiscrimination legislation, statewide, that protects LGBTQ Pennsylvanians. This is an economic justice issue as much as it is a civil rights issue. The fact that LGBTQ people can lose their job, be denied a mortgage or leasing agreement, or be kicked out of a restaurant/school/doctor’s office, simply because of who they love or how they identify, is ridiculous, and is just robbing people of their dignity.

On LGBTQ+ Inclusive Hate Crimes: LGBTQ+ people are victims of horrendously violent crimes. We've seen over 30 trans people killed just this year in our country! We must include sexual orientation, gender identity AND gender expression as protected classes in our state's hate crimes statute. Period.

My campaign, and my career, is first and foremost about making sure that forgotten Pennsylvanians have a voice [VIDEO], and LGBT+ people are absolutely a neglected community in our Commonwealth. LGBT+ Pennsylvanians still do not have protection from discrimination... and are constantly under attack in Harrisburg. Transgender Pennsylvanians have it especially hard, especially trans people of color. It is of utmost importance to me that LGBT+ Pennsylvanians feel that they can trust me to be a champion for equality.

One of the moments I am most proud of is the decision to solemnize same-sex weddings in 2013 when it was illegal to do so in the state of Pennsylvania. I continued to do so when then Republican Governor Tom Corbett sent me orders to desist. Love is love is love, and I am proud to say that I stood on the right side of history for LGBT+ couples [VIDEO].

Equality Pennsylvania received endorsement requests from several other Lt. Governor candidates and conducted phone interviews.  From those requests, only Mayor Fetterman and candidate Nina Ahmad remain in the race as we go to the polls tomorrow.

It's worth noting that incumbent Lt. Governor Mike Stack [Link] and challengers Kathi Cozzone or Ray Sosa did not apply for endorsement nor respond to messages encouraging their participation in our endorsement process.

Mayor Fetterman's depth of knowledge and understanding on LGBTQ Issues, his commitment to support Governor Wolf's agenda of equality and fairness, and his widely respected work transforming Braddock, PA to be a place of inclusion and justice are why we're voting for him, and we hope you do, too.

Click Here to View our Full Endorsement List

Equality Pennsylvania

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Daryl Metcalfe is at it again.  Today, in a rant on his official State Representative Page, Metcalfe told his constituents he will "block all substantive Democrat legislation sent to [the House State Government] committee."

This includes the PA Fairness Act that Metcalfe has continually blocked nearly eight years.

Equality Pennsylvania's Fund for Fairness wants to oust Daryl Metcalfe this fall, but we can't do it without your investment. Click Here to give a monthly donation or click here to make a one time gift.

We will put your donation toward BLOCKING Daryl Metcalfe and his anti-LGBTQ colleagues!

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Endorsements!

Equality PA PAC has endorsed candidates along with tour sibling organization Equality Pennsylvania.  The endorsements can be found at http://equalitypa.org/endorsements.

Legal Disclaimer: Equality PA PAC has endorsed candidates in a separate meeting and vote from Equality Pennsylvania and allocates endorsement resources separately, under different leadership of Equality Pennsylvania.  

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BREAKING NEWS: PA Reps attacking LGBTQ families in anti-gay memo, led by Daryl Metcalfe

Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Chairman Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) and 26 of his right-wing friends are at it again ... attacking LGBTQ families!

Today these 27 lawmakers sent a memo to Governor Tom Wolf attacking Pennsylvania's policy of having "parent/parent" on birth certificates.  Their memo demands that Governor Wolf require PA birth certificates to use the fields "mother/father."  These lawmakers are hiding behind the 'cost of changing the label on birth certificates' - but you and I both know their real target is -- LGBTQ Families. We also know that families with two moms and two dads deserve equal recognition under the law.

Equality PA PAC is working in 2018 to unseat as many of these anti-equality representatives as possible but we need you to kick in $20.18 right away to make it happen.   And a member of our PAC board will match all donations up to $1,000 this month.  Click here to give $20.18.

In case you wondered (and I'm sure you did) the lawmakers who joined Metcalfe in his crusade to de-legitimize LGBTQ famlies is listed below.  To them we say: We see you and we won't forget this action on Election Day.

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List of PA State Representatives who are working to de-legitimize LGBTQ Families:

Daryl Metcalfe

Matt Baker

Stephen Bloom

Bryan Cutler

Russ Diamond

Cris Dush

Brian Ellis

Garth Everett

Seth Grove

Kristin Hill

Rob Kauffman

Dawn Keefer

Jerry Knowles

John McGinnis

Brett Miller

Tedd Nesbit

Jack Rader, Jr.

Kathy Rapp

Rick Saccone

Tommy Sankey

Will Tallman

Judy Ward

Ryan Warner

Parke Wentling

Jeff Wheeland

Paid for by Equality PA PAC. Not affiliated with any candidate or candidate's committee. No corporate contributions. Equality PA PAC supports electing LGBTQ-supportive candidates.